Bad girls and good boys on the run, rich kids from L.A., a Brooklyn babymama, and Otis Redding-loving geeks are the ’80s movie characters that we will be admiring here today. If your closet needs some shaking up, throw on some lace, a blazer, and some white creepers and pump up some ’80s jams on your boombox. LET’S DO IT.

Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) is one of the greatest fashion movies of the ’80s because not only was it a good display of Madonna’s game-changing style at the time, which was see-through black lace, layer upon layer of rosaries, and studded, high-heeled boots, but the plot revolved around a piece of clothing, the infamous pyramid jacket, and a pair of stolen Egyptian earrings. Am I sensing a theme here? There were actually replicas of the jacket made when the movie came out that are now collector’s items.You can also find reproductions like this one on Etsy. Unfortunately I don’t have a clever DIY for us to make our own just yet. In the meantime, follow Madonna’s lace-gloved lead and have fun accessorizing like a madwoman with stacked rubber bracelets and crosses, crosses, EVERYWHERE!

The characters in Pretty in Pink (1986) have some of the best ensembles in any ’80s movie, so it was hard to decide who to write about. We all know Molly Ringwald is an inspiration herself, and don’t get me started on her eclectic record-store boss and my own personal style icon, Iona, played by Annie Potts. But let’s all lay our cards on the table and look each other straight in the eyes here: the guy who takes the cake is DEFINITELY Andie’s sidekick/unrequited lover, Duckie. Take a gander at this scene, melt, collect yourself and continue with this article. OK, are we ready? Since Duckie is a master of pattern-worship, I think a Duckette would wear tons of wild prints and bright blazers and accessorize with cool, celestial-themed bolo ties and an assortment of brooches. Scour flea markets and Etsy to start your own collection of crazy pins and start a bad crush on yourself.

Less Than Zero (1987) is a tale of high school friends caught up in a seedy world of drugs and rich-people problems post-graduation. At least Jami Gertz’s character always looked pretty slammin’. She was sleek and professional in black blazers and pencil skirts, but added accessories like big earrings, bright red lipstick, and hot-pink handkerchiefs peeking out of pockets. Do the same in an all-black ensemble, like this black blazer from ASOS Curve and silk stockings from Hansel and Basel. Then add your hints of pink with your shoes and lipstick.

It wasn’t hard to see why young piano virtuoso Danny (River Phoenix), whose family was on the run from the law, fell hard for Lorna (Martha Plimpton) in Running on Empty (1988). (They dated in real life too!) Her style was mostly casual, but some outfits, like her cream-colored peasant dress and black boots, looked effortlessly stylish. I myself want these buckle boots from Romwe. Add one piece of statement jewelry, like this gold necklace or these earrings, both from Modcloth. God, River was so HOT in that movie…

In Do the Right Thing (1989) Rosie Perez played Tina, the girlfriend-slash-babymama of Mookie (Spike Lee), a pizza-delivery guy dealing with race battles in his Bed-Stuy neighborhood. In the opening credits we see Rosie busting some funky moves to Public Enemy’s “Fight The Power” in an all-red outfit. I love it when someone dresses like a walking crayon! I like how she has a thing for bows, too. All-gold jewelry is another key to dressing like Tina, and while you’re at it, put a nameplate necklace at the top of your wish list. I’m wearing my own “Marie” one right now. Pardon me while I put on my Pumas and start learning this routine.

31 Comments

I love all these outfits and can we just discuss what an amazing outspoken and political feminist Martha Plimpton is? Following her and the organization she co-founded (aisfor.org) on twitter has educated me so much and helped my awareness of what is going on with the war on women. Thanks to her, I became aware of a protest happening down the street from me with Unite Women and Planned Parenthood that I was able to participate in. She’s been a huge inspiration for me on a feminist and political scale and I just love and respect her so much.
She’s also HILARIOUS on Raising Hope and in 200 Cigarettes which I adore.

Aw, this is awesome :D
All of these outfits are super rad and I will try my hardest to embody POWER in my outfits this month…..that will prove difficult since most of my clothes are pastels and too cute for power. I want to watch Desperately Seeking Susan because Madonna is awesome.
I want a pair of creepers SO BAD…..knowing that I will never have them is almost painful. WHY?!?
Anyways, this awesome and isn’t Desperately Seeking Susan on Netflix?

And even though I would have picked Duckie myself, it somehow seemed right for her to end up with Blaine – oh how I hate that name – when I introduced my best friend to Pretty and Pink she FLIPPED, she didn’t like Duckie or what’s his name. Needless to say she is no longer my best friend.

I LOVE the dance routine! This is the first time I am watching a girl dance like that. She does not give shit about being graceful or sensuous. She just has a hell lot of passion within and she wants to let it out! *Not a single fuck was given that day!*

I literally freak out every time I watch Desperately Seeking Susan, I love the movie, but the clothing just gets to me SO much I have the urge to go thrifiting right then and there (which sucks because it’s normally late at night but whatever) and put on as much jewelry as humanly possible. Watching it is really bad for my health, but I’ve endured. Once again Rookie gets me going!!

wow, Running on Empty is here?! I LOVE THAT FILM! and she’s such a stylish character (not to mention a wonderful one in general). river was beautiful. so beautiful I could cry. and they were so cute together my goodness…. also the presence of pretty in pink makes me happy. ducky is the best. this style article is fantastic and now I want to dress 80′s.

i love this. the 80s are basically one of my main obsessions, and my friends are always telling me i look like i stepped out of an 80s movie… weirdly enough these clothes arent the most flattering on anyone, and yet when you see them on screen you just wish you live 25 years ago so you could wear them!

Hi, queen people! April’s theme is BOTH SIDES NOW, which considers the many different answers to THE BIG QUESTIONS, whatever those are for you. If you’ve got a project or pitch about seeing things in a whole new light, please email it to submission@rookiemag.com.

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